Hockey Overview Series: Hockey Basics; The Lingo; Brief History; Game Experience

Become a Part of the Action!
Separated from the on-ice action by nothing more than a sheet of Plexiglas™, NHL™ fans enjoy an up close and personal experience unattainable in any other sport. Whether you’re heckling the visiting goaltender from behind the net, banging on the glass in the first row, or feverishly waving your team towel from the upper row, NHL™ fans play an integral role in the game. Discover why casual spectators become avid fanatics after one trip to the stadium by attending a hockey game yourself.

Hit the jump for more reasons why hockey is one of the best sports in history

NHL™  Hockey Traditions

"Honey, Did You Remember the Octopus?"

Dating back to 1917, the NHL™ is unsurprisingly steeped in tradition. What may surprise you though, are the rituals themselves and the lengths fans will go to in order to make sure these hockey traditions are carried out.

Where else would you find men and women stuffing a real octopus in their pants, just for the opportunity to toss it onto the ice when their beloved Red Wings score? Learn about the outrageous things you can expect to encounter at your home town team’s stadium, by checking out our interactive links, blog articles, and videos.

Hats on Ice
If you've ever seen hockey fans throw hats on the ice - it's not because their favorite player needs some new head wear or is going bald. It's to celebrate a player scoring three goals in a game which is called a hat trick. The term comes from the game of cricket (a lame form of baseball played in England.) In 1858, a player knocked down three wickets in a row. This feat was considered so great that the team gave the player a brand new hat - big whoop! The fastest hat trick in NHL history was scored by Bill Mosienko of the Chicago Blackhawks who potted three goals in just 21 seconds in 1952. A "natural hat trick" is when a player scores three goals in a row - with no goals by the other team in between. The player who scores the three goals doesn't keep the hats. They're given to charity instead (for all those hatless kids!)

Towel Power

In 1982, the Vancouver Canucks were playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals. During the second game, the refereeing was absolutely horrible. The ref called nine penalties against the Canucks and disallowed one of the team's goals. To protest the ref's poor eyesight, the Canucks' coach, Roger Neilson, waved a towel on the end of a hockey stick to signal surrender. When the Canucks returned to Vancouver for their next game, thousands of fans waved white towels - as a tribute to Roger's protest. The tradition became known as Towel Power and is now used by sports fans all over North America.

NHL™ Stadium Guides
Imagine visiting an Igloo with luxury suites. Or how about sitting in a Shark Tank while feasting on spicy nachos and a cold beer? No, you haven’t linked to the Travel Channel™ -- you’re attending a hockey game.

Guy's Girl NHL stadium guides provide you all the tools you need to transform a trip to the game into an amazing day of entertainment:

• Ticket Purchases
• Driving Directions
• Nearby Attractions
• Travel Accommodations
• NHL Stadium Seating Diagrams
• Local Restaurant, Bar, & Shopping Reviews

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